Late financial hurdle stalls Al-Ittihad move for Anis Hadj Moussa

Anis Hadj Moussa’s proposed move from Feyenoord to Al-Ittihad has been put on hold after a dispute over the financial guarantees attached to the transfer.

The deal had appeared increasingly likely to be completed before the Saudi transfer window closes, with the clubs and player understood to have reached a verbal agreement. However, Feyenoord’s request for a bank guarantee covering the transfer payment has reportedly been rejected by Al-Ittihad.

Journalist Ben Jacobs says the transfer is currently considered interrupted, despite the progress made by the parties in recent days.

The demand for a bank guarantee is regarded as highly unusual in this type of transaction and has caused negotiations to stall at a crucial stage. The move is not yet definitively off, but one of the two clubs will need to change its position in the coming hours if it is to be revived.

Al-Ittihad have continued to pursue the Algeria international after several earlier approaches were turned down by Feyenoord. One of those rejected bids was believed to be worth €37.5m, while the Saudi club later returned with an improved proposal that could have approached €40m.

Feyenoord had been reluctant to allow the winger to leave, particularly because the Dutch transfer window had already closed. That meant the club would have been unable to sign a genuine replacement before the proposed sale was completed.

The situation has also been complicated by growing tension between Hadj Moussa and Feyenoord’s management. The player is reported to have been unhappy with the lack of communication surrounding the initial discussions with Al-Ittihad.

His absence from Feyenoord’s match against NEC added to the speculation. The official explanation was that he had missed the team bus departure, but the timing of the incident intensified questions about his future.

The latest development represents another sharp turn in a transfer saga that has already involved rejected offers, strained relations and uncertainty over whether the deal could be completed before the deadline.

As recently as Sunday morning, some sources believed there were “de bonnes chances” of the transfer going through. Within a few hours, however, the operation was once again close to collapsing.

Al-Ittihad still want to sign Hadj Moussa, while the player is now understood to be open to the move. He had initially hoped to join a major European league, but his position has reportedly changed as negotiations with the Saudi club have advanced.

The Saudi transfer window is now close to closing, leaving limited time for a resolution. After the competing offers and the tensions surrounding the deal, the bank guarantee dispute could ultimately determine whether Hadj Moussa leaves Feyenoord for Al-Ittihad.